Rotary explosive-engine.



PATBNTED JAN. 23, 11906;

P. REYNOLDS. ROTARY EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED NGV. 2, 1903.

5 SHEBTS-3KEET 1.

[.N'VEATOR 4 ATTORN' Y.

SS ES No. 810,435. I

ROTARY EXPLOSIVE ENGINE;

APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 2 1 903.

g 6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JITTORNEY PATENTBD JAN. 23, 1906.

I F. REYNOLDS. I

" ROTARY EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1903.

II W,

WWW

No. 810,435. PATBNTED JAN. 23, 1966.

F. REYNOLDS.

ROTARYEXPLOSIVE ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1903.

INVITNTOR @MM dTTORNE Y.

PATENTED JAN. 23, 1906.

F. REYNOLDS. ROTARY EXPLOSIV-E ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2, 1903.

R; 5 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

I 1 TTORNE i".

cel transverse section on FRA NK REYNOLDS, 0F

corner v E A credence, new YORK.

PLO$iVE ENGEhiEu Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 23, 1906.

Application filed Noteznbar 2, 1903. Serial No 179,481.

1'0 n-ZZ whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, FRANK REYNOLDS, a citizen of the United States, and e resident of Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rotary Explosive Engines, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is e ll, clear, and exact description.

This invention-relates to the class of gasolone-engines which are commonly known as the' rotery type.

The resent invention resides in an'en ine which 18 adapted ior it is more especielly designed for propelling automobiles and launches.

The object of the present invention is to produce a gasolene-engine which shall be simple, strong, and durable in construction, safe, efficient, and reliable in its operation, and can be easily and conveniently conthe some time shall be inexpensive to manufacture.

Furthermore, the object of the invention is to provide simple and eflicieni means for starting the engine.

To this end the invention consists inthe novel arrangement and construction of the component parts of the gssolene-engine, as hereinafter fully described, and set forth in the claims. 2

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end view of the engine embodying my inven tion. Fig. 2 is a. vertical longitudinal section on line V.V in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is e vertiline W WV in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is 91 longitudinai section on line X X in Fig. 2.

tion on line Y Y in 1. Fig. 6 is a trans verse section on line Z Z in 5. Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail sectional view of a of the case and one of the rotary pistons and illustrating more fully the air-tight packing of the piston, and Fig. 8 is a further enlarged detail View of a, portion of the disposed beck ofi-the pecking.

Similar letters of reference indicate corrcspending ports.

metallic sti ip A represents a case, which may be of any suitable size and siyle and is formed with two intersecting cyhnd. ical compartments B n. Said case is also formed with two compertmcnts (J l, disposed above the compare merits B B and into which the explosive mi)? tur received under com reseion. Between the compel-t ants C C are case is formed in ly described, from which project pipes various uses, although I B B by means of ports bi), as clearly shown Fig. 5 is o horizontal transverse sec portion The explosion of the mixture is effected by the usual and well-lrnoivn spark-plugs a a, the sparking of which may be produced by devices which are common to all explosive-engines. 'lhese expiosion-eompertments C C communicate Witlrthe respective c lindrical compartments any suitably-controlled in Fig. 3 of the drawi'ii' s.

D D denote two parallel shafts which extend axially through the 'cylinolricsl compartmerits B it and are connected by two pairs of gears secured to the shafts, indicated at c c c c. These gears are of equal sizes, whereby the said shafts rotate at the same speed and in opposite directions. One of the gears c is provided withe segmental slot (1, and the adjacent geer cie provided with. e hole 6, and through ssid slot and hole possess bolt f.- This arra'ngexnentpermits the gears to be adjusted when they become Worn, and thereby prevent chucking of the gears.

. B B denote two sectorsl'pistcns which are disposed in the aforesaid cylindrical ,compertments B and are secured to the respective shafts D l), and thereby rotate in opposite directions. Said pistons ere fornicdihollow for the reception of wet-er, oil, or air for the purpose of coolingthe some. Said pistons B B are provided with redial faces B E the latter being impinged by the ez-r-- ploded mixture and constituting the drivingfaces. The said faces of each of the pistons are formed concave to prevent collision of the two pistons during their rotation and for the purpose of increasing the impingement of the innit: re thereon iucilcnt to the explol sion of the mint re.

The segmental portions of the :nstms are of such rsdii that the peripheral portion of one is in contact with the hub g of the other dfiring their rotation, thereby forming a cutoil at this point to prevent the escape of the l e.. -oloded mixtdrc, as indicated at a; in n 3 containing the cooling agent Theborec'fil c" or the shafts ouch extend to within a srior'g distance fi'om the end of the she-fl), and they communicanc by means of trci1svr-'-'se or redial orts k if with annular cliarnoers c, loose y surrounding the shafts, wl'iich churn hers are connected by pipes 5 unlined by e suitable coupling; e, iherehy' permit? "1g e constant circulation oi the cooling rig-eulthrough she shells and pistons, as clearly shown in Figs florid of the drmvings VVheu s liquid, as water or oil, E use the cooling agent, the rolasilzion of tho pisuou causes the liquid lo flow m the bore through the rsdizil passage s into the ton and out through the passage ll into bore i. I

It will he understood that the cooling of I the liquid or air may eil'ecaccd by on? so i I communicate Wish the rceper ive exgu with a col or or head be used for able means, and :2, pump through the forcing 'the liquid or or scribed aris.

C C denote sectoral cou'cierhelsuces, two of which are preferably secured to each slmii; Dend heve's, combined weight. equal to ihu'l, of the-corresponding piston B.

D D re ,resent two verticullywlispcsed cylindrical c mmbers preferably formed in- -Legrsl and having their owc- Ii'liifil open, and Whidli may he supported in c. suitable end convenient manner. In thee explosive mixture is compressed, hercinafter fully descrihid. These cherub-err? l) D Oil.-

compartments, C C of the A by moons of tubes f 'j connected 5c the upper poi-Lions or the chambers and crimpertmeiiis lo. ch

of said tubes is secured a plug', providedwith passages on m for the mixture.

In each cxplosio i-compertmeu' C a check-valve n, o euing and closing the dis-- charge and of i e tube f. Said valve is icrn'lcd with a stem 0 passing through the aforesaid )lug l and provided on its outer end l p lictweeii id collar or head and the plug Z and surr said stem 0 is a spiral spring Z", to normally close the valve as. said cylindriq-cl charnliers D"- l" i reciprocating piston 5, her connected to a (Toni-Ln, Esoteric-ii D, from which it; receives its mo (1 represents the zueir .rr, which supplies the explosive mi, 'This car buretcr is composed of "w/o "ver cellydis posed telesoopiccylimlers e and "i The outer cylinder 0 is stationary on may he b chambers the outlet porh 5 flhc inner cylinder 7) smears su ported in any suitable manner and is pr0- wood with on eui'ifilel; port a sud a mixtureis add tobe romfed sod is provided with a stem cl, projecting through the to of the cylinder 0" to which stem is attache a handlever ci'o: impzu'liwg movement to said cylinder 3)". The said cylinder p is provided 'WliLll. ports 0 which are disposed to register with the aforesaid ports 11' b respectively. in the sir-inlet port a is secured an eirsupply pipe (Z and in theoutleteporfi b is sc cured c dischcrgepipe d. pipe 1 communicubes'with hmneh pipes a a which in turn cormnuuicete, respectivelvwith the upper portions of the cylindrical chambers D D. In each of said cylindrical chum hers is's check-valve e which opens and closes the end of the pipe '6 and is provided mum stemf extending upwardly and provided with a siutohly-arranged spring j. (Shown in dotted lines.)

to horhmlly maintain the valve e closed,

which letter entrops the mixture in the clm111- her, as hereinafter explained.

.1? represents a cylindrical chmnber which contains the gzisoleue. Said gesolcne-chamber communicates at its lower portion with the corresponding portion of the carburetor U by means of a duct 9 and has attached to its top c supply-pipe 7 which leads from a. suits-hie gusorelic-reservoir.. (Not necessary to he shown.) In said gtlb'l)ltllU-(lllllllbfil is a flee-ill", provided on its bottom with a stem if, moving in a. guide h, provided in the bottom of the cluuuher. (lo the upper end of the limit l)" s )rovided a similu 1' stem 2'", prcferchly tapered at i to outer end sud (0IlSlZll.-1li3- ing a valve. This valve is adapted to open end close a gcsolene inlet port i, formed in ii plug secured in 'thc end oi: the pipe-g and thereby control the supply of gnsolcne'to the chandler-g1)": The said gusoloue feed-duct g cmnmuu retes with a stzuul pipe j extending into he inner cylinder p o!" the curburm tor, and in said duct is the so-cnllod .ncedle'- valve which is adjustable to rcgulute the ulll spend-pipe y is a iupllragm Iv, attire led to the irmer cylinder .ol the carburetor and serves to num oflectuallymix the air and gasclose The aforesaid case A is formed with a supplemental explpsiou- -ompnrtn1ent E, disposed hetwoeu the main explosion-001m mrtments C C and independent thereof. .lhis compartment E is provided with a port 1', by which it communicates alternately with the cylindrical compnrmnents B B of the case Said supplemental cxplosion-c m1- pertinent E is also prov ded with an inletport 3, in which is securciil a pipe 1, the discharge end of which is provided with a check. velveu by a spiral spring 12-, surrounding the stem ".1; of the valve and exerting outward pressure Said discharge Said spring serves i This valve is held norumllyclosed" from a carburetor F, an

on a collar w, secured'to said stem, asclearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings. The pipe 15 is connected to another ipe T, which leads d this carbureter-is connected to a compressed air tank or chamber G by means of a ipes. The ipe s is provided with a suita le valve 6, w. ich controls the discharge of air from the tankor chamber G, and to the valve t is attached a hand-lever w for operatin the same. H denotes a chamber 'w rich contains gasolene and is connected to the carbureterF by means of a pipe S The said carbureter F and gasolenerchamber H may be of, any suitable or well-known construction. The aforesaid supplemental cxplosion-compartment E is provided with an electric spark-plug u, simiar to the spark-plugs c a in the main explosioncompartments, which plug is disposed slightly below the plane of the upper point of intersection of the compartments B B and secured to the rear wall ofthe case, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5 of the drawings.

The sparkin may be eiiected by any suitable means. gNot necessary to be shown.)

The air may be compressed in the tank or chamber G in any convenient manner-ms, for example, an automatic pump may be arranged to communicate with said tank and be operated by one of the engine-shafts D or other movable part of the engine.

Havin described the construction of my improved gasolene-engine,1 will now proceed to explain the operation of the same, as follows, to wit: To startthe engine, are person 111 charge turns the hand-lover w to open the valve 2- in the pipe .9, whereby the air under compression is discharged from the chamber 'or tankG and passes through the carburetor F, in which it becomes mixed with the gasolene fed to the carburetor from the chamber H, it being understood that the supply of gas olene is controlled by a valve or valves common to all engines. The mixture ellected in the carburetor being under pressure derived from the tank G is forced through the pipe 2*. This pressure opens the chcclevalve u and admits the mixture into the aforesaid supplemental cxplosiomcom artmcut E in the case A. When [L'Ui'lQl amount of the mixture is supplied to the compartment, the valve t is closed, whereby pressure is relieved back of the valve u to allow the spring v to close the latter, and thus entrap the mixture in said compartment. lmmediatcl after the valve. 11 is closed theusu a1 and Wellrnown properly timed electric devices (not shown) are aotuatcd io cause a sparking at the plug 11., thcroby producmg the GXPlOSlOlLOi thc nuxturc v in said compartment E. By reason oi the said com partmcnt comm unicating altcrne tcly with thClliOl'BSilKl cylindrical compartuwuts (l 0 through the port 1' the resultant force of the said explosion causes the mixture to impmge the concave lace B of one of the pistons pistons B B B,expossd to the port, which impingement imparts rotary motion to said piston. The rotation of the piston allows the exploded mix ture to escape through the exhaust-ports A A. The shaft D of the driven piston being geared to'the other shaft D, as aforesaid, ro-

tates the companion-piston in opposite direction. The engine being under motion and the needle-valve adjusted to feed the gasolene to the'carbureter (-1 the handdever a" is 0 erated torotatc the inner cylinder p of the sai. carbureter to cause the ports 0 and c' to register with the ports (11- and respectively, of the outer stationarycylinder o. This operation of the inner cylinder admits the a r through the ports a (F and permits the discharge of the mixture Oi air and gasolcno through the he rotating shafts l) I) impart reciprocating movement to the respective disposed in the cylindrical chambers D D and which are so arranged that one moves outward during the inward movement of the other. The outward stroke of a piston B creates a suction in the corresponding cylindriczil chamber D. This suction opens the check-valve e and permits the explosive mixture to be drawn from the carbureter into said chamber. During this mo ement of the iston B the aforesa d valve n in the exp osion-compa-rtment C is maintained closed by its spring. when the piston 3 reaches the end oi its outward stroke, the springf automatically closes the check-valve e and thus entraps the mixture in the said chamber D. By'the inward stroke of said piston the mixture becomes com ressed between the top of the piston and head of the chamber and subsequently forced out through the tube f This force issuf= ficient to open the valve n, and thereby admit the compressed mixture the explosioncompartmcnt C. The succeeding outward strose of the said piston B relieves the pressu e back of the valve 11, whereby the spring 1' automatically closes said valve and entraps the com ressed mixture in said compartment, in whiei it is exploded. This explosion is produced by the usual electric spark-plug 0.. The sparking (if said plug may be ci'l'ected and controlled by any suitable and well-known dev ces which'opcratc automatically. Inasmuch as these devices are common to all ongines of this character, an illustration and a. description of the same are unnecessary.

It will be understood that the mixture is admitted into a compartment (1 while the port 1) thereof is closed by the peripheral portion of the rotary piston B and that the electric devices controlling the sparking are timed so as to ignite the mixture'as thc port is opened. The reciprocating pistons ll" 13 being arranged and operating as (.lSCl'll)(.(,l, the mixture is alternately compressed in the chambers l), l) and likewise supplied to the corresponding explosion-compartments C C.

t c- 11s and v:

i by His sm sw is' The resultant force of the Exploded mixture causes the mixturs to impinge the concave faces id of the pistons 3'3 and impzirt rotary motion to the same in the manner hGit-fillbfifOlB descflbed and allow the mixture "to thl'migh inks exhausvports A A}.

"l d not limitmyseif w the specific cunsimction and arrangement of the componentpzuts 01 my improwd engine, inasnmch as may be great'iy modified Wii'irmut degaming from the spirit of my invention The end fsces the pistons B B an formed ibh'g: vss 1" in which a suimbis acking s is prov Med, mid back of said pack '1: the groovirs are disposed springfmetai L. )s 1'3 which press the packil mlivwsrd to produce. an air-tight joint bstmen the pisslis of the case A, clearly shown. in Figs. 5 and 7 of the drawings,

Vi ha t I claim is- .1. in a rotary Moshe-engine, the zombination of case comprising two intorsim'ting cyiir'irical isoin mrtmcnts and fmn'iebi with two separate m1 ;lesioncompmtrnsnts sash provided Wifih a port affording communism tion with its res n-active cylii'idricsl cmnpart- Inent, suitable igniters in the explosion-001m pm'tments, parsiiei rotary shafts extending axially through the said cylindrical compartinents and geared $0 bate in Opposite (iirsc izions, sectomi pistonsin the 121M 1 sojrnpsifv manta; and secured to the 1sspseti*-w shafts and o gisnine; and closing said ports alt'arzmtsly, compiessioii-chambcrs comnmnimting (iii'eciuiy with. the yespective expiosiun-001npartmen zs, a CRIiRXEO-i omn'um csting with cash of said uhmi'ibers alterizsteiy means supplying the cm'burvizer with air and. g zisbdene reumrwstinq pisn'ns ii: the chambers and. op cruteiiby the aforesaid shafts, and compressiwg; thsinixture in said climnbers and tii somprsssed n'iixi'um int! the explosion mm im r'gimmtz-ii she-c K-V2iiV-2Es in said chain-- bars 22nd" expiosionwompartinenis and opened and compressiam ii 01' the mixture, )Ylfiiilg-S sutsnimiiicaiiy closing ssii valves, and exhzmsfiports in the said case, substantially as descriheii In a rotary w vimsivc -engine, 110 umbinstion of a case comprising twe 111i cfim'ig cyiindricul cumpm'tmm:ts mu} 0. PEUSiOIl." conapartments "51011 cuminuniqutmg with fihq upper portions of its 'z s 'mcmve "imirwal C'OIX'lDTLIiLQLQHt, nurailci s is sxtcm, sx sily i[hr0ugh $3.19 latter miun mu'tmsms snd geared t0"""f0taic in oppnsim' direciiona tol'ai pistons in lzdrmzii menta and f-iQCUY-M .p? :1 i i 22$ vtheir upper suriians diwsiiy with 's cciive mapinsmn cempm-imems, s

forcing.

E's-tax" shafts amending hrou'gh saii ated by ah-s si'olszssid shsf'ls and drawing the mom 1.1 cgnfbureter slimnstoiy into said chsmbers and compre" 51g the maxi e the smi subsequently forcing Lure from dis chambers 111% she wh ments, sutoxmt chesk-vsivss between the bars and be qwmin Ems said ciisziniwrs and gar- "zaust-ports m the said case,

3. In. a ivwm'y mzplosivs-engine, the combir 1 i v cyimdncs! (um'ipmwmsnts and explosioncom pa rtnients shafts extending axially ifinnugh th s latter compmtme ts and-geared to rotate in 0p JO" ciriuai comp: iments and secured is said shafts, swish!p-contmhed siec'izi'ic sparking ionilmg expiesiozvcomparthitter cmnpm'tinams and compi'assisn-cha-msubstantially as described.

nsiiion of ii 5 mpiising 6W0 in'hersscting 0-5 nr +4 3 1 v t 11 A iwspelmve bymuinksi cwniparunu n para 9 sit-s direction sectoral pistons in said 2:; in-

devices in iii 0 iosionmmnpartmenis, &

g4 y v air of vermciiiiy-dispssed cyi ndricsk chant 009s (3 0mmunicming at hsi'r uppe portions with the vespesizivs @xpiusion-mmpzirtments, a csrburete'z' commi sioning with the tops of said ciiambm's, :iprocsting pistons in said chsnibei's, and operated by said shafts and ultemsws 7 drawing the exnlosive mixture from the mybzireter'into the chambers and csnmrss ing' the mine therein and f0rcii'ig; the c m'iprsssed mixture into ms corresponding sxpiosiumcompartments, horizom i & ii:y'-1nOVk1i)iD uhecic-vsiyss in said. com prc-ssion-ciismbe'rs opsmed by the. suctionstrokes of the istzer pisuons, and. like vaives in. filo ercpinsiomcompmtmcnts spewed by the munpmssiun strokes of the pistons,

springs JR-M mu? msans for ex: banishing; the stgfiods. mixture 11mm the afmsssid cyiincirimi compsmments substan- Liuilp a dam mlf tpiosi'vs-migine, the annihi- 31st amprising igva intersecting cyiinrhicsi cumpziz'misnts sn explosioncoi npm'tmcni/s each. comn'iuniciiging with its respective cylindrical cziimpmtnwnt, parallel shafts extending uixialzy through the latter c mq srtn sms and gears/ i m insists in up? site direct-mus, 590mm! pistons 11) said 0y in; diicai mmpsrtmo and secured to said shaft-s, sectoral? cmamsrhsisnces secured to s, iters in 'thir sxpimsivii-computnmnts, means f0; siherzmteEy supplying the iattsr conignwcznents with explosive mixturs under minpi'ci imp, and suitableuhsck aivss animus n 11d substsmiiaiiy as zmtion of a case 00mg)! 1; twu mteis cylindrical uouipmin'l-sn-s and expiosion- ECO opposite directions, sectoral pistons secured to the respective shafts, igniters in the explosioncompartments, a pair 'of cylindrical chambers communicating at their upper ends with the respective explosion-compartments, a carbureter commun cating with said chambers, a gasolene-chamber communicating with the carburetor, an air-inlet port and a mixture-discharge port in the carbureter, means for simultaneously opening and closing said ports, means controlling the feed of the gasolene to the carbureter, suitably-o 'erated reciprocating pistons in the aforesai cylindrical chambers, and drawing the explosive mixture from the carburetor alternately into said chambers and compressing the same therein and forcing the compressed mixture into said explosion-compartments, cranks and rods imparting movement from the aforesaid shafts to the latter pistons, check-valves in said explosion-compartments and compression-chambers, and exhaust-ports in said case substantially asidescribed and shown.

6. In a rotary explosive-engine, the combination of a case comprising two intersecting cylindrical compartments and explosioncompartments each communicating with its respective cylindrical compartments, igniters in the explosion-com artment, parallel shafts extending. axially t hrough the cylindrical compartments and geared to rotate in opposite directions, sectoral pistons in said latter compartments and secured to saidshafts, exhaust-ports in said case, a pair of cylindrical compression-chambers, pipes conducting the compressed mixture from the chambers to the respective explosioncompartmcnts, checkvalves opening and closing said pipes, a carbureter, an inlet-port and a mixture-outlet port in the carbureter, a gasolene-chamber communicating with the carburetor, a supply-pipe connected to the gasclene-chamber, means for simultaneously 0 cning and closing the aforesaid ports in t e carburetor, a pipe connected to the carbureter, branch pipes leading from the latter pipe to the tops of the respective compression-chambers, reciprocating pistons in the latter chambers and actuated by the aforesaid shafts, said pistons alternately drawing the explosive mixture from the carbureter into the respective chambers and compressing the mixture therein and forcing the compressed mixture into the said explosion-compartments, and

check valves in said latter compressionchambers opening and closing the aforesaid branch pi es, substantially as described.

7. In t e herein-described rotary explosive-engine the combination of a case com prising two intersecting cylindrical compartments, parallel shafts extending axially through said compartments and geared to rotate in opposite directions, said shafts each being provided with a longitudinal bore and at one end with a transverse port, chambers surroundingthe respective shafts at said ends and communicating with said bores, a pipe affording communication between the chambers, hollow sectoral pistons in said compartments and formed with hubs by which they are secured to said shafts, transverse ports in the shaft extending from the aforesaid bores, and the said hubs formed with radial assages communicating with said ports an affording communication between the bores of said shafts and interiors of the pistons, as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In the herein-described rotary explosive-engine, the combination with a case formed with two cylindrical compartments,

suitably-journaled sectoral pistons in said compartments, grooves formed in the end faces of said pistons, packing in said grooves, and corrugated spring-metal strips disposed back of the packing and pressing the same outward for the purpose set forth.

9. In the herein-described rotary explosive-engine, the combination of a case comprising twoin terseeting cylindrical compartments main explosion-compartments each communicating with its respective cylindrical compartment and a supplemental explosioncompartment communicating alternately with said cylindrical compartments, oppo sitely-rotating sectoral pistons journaled in the latter compartments, exhaust-ports in the case, igniters in said explosion-compartments, a main carbureter supplying the main exp]osion-compartments with mixture, anothercarbureter supplying the supplemental explosion-compartmcntwith mixture, and a compressed-air tank or chamber communieating with the latter carburetor substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

FRANK REYNOLDSJ Witnesses:

J. J. Laass, GILES B EVEIi: N. 

